The Witch of Lime Street

The Witch of Lime Street chronicles the 1920s clash between Harry Houdini and Mina Crandon, a Boston medium known as "Margery." The book details Scientific American magazine's contest offering a cash prize to any medium who could demonstrate genuine supernatural abilities, with Houdini serving on the investigating committee. The narrative follows Houdini's transformation from a curious investigator of spiritualism to its most prominent debunker, set against the backdrop of America's post-WWI obsession with the afterlife. Through extensive research and historical documents, Jaher reconstructs the investigations, séances, and public spectacle surrounding Margery's attempts to prove her powers. The central conflict pits the era's most famous escape artist against a charismatic socialite medium, drawing in academics, journalists, and grieving families searching for contact with lost loved ones. The story moves through parlor rooms, laboratories, and newspaper offices as the investigation intensifies. This account of science versus faith captures a pivotal moment when empirical inquiry confronted humanity's eternal questions about death and what lies beyond. The book reveals how the spiritualist movement intersected with celebrity culture, scientific inquiry, and American society's response to unprecedented mass death.

Readers found this to be a detailed account of Harry Houdini's investigation of medium Margery Crandon, though many felt the pacing dragged in sections. Liked: - Rich historical context of 1920s spiritualism - Thorough research and primary sources - Vivid descriptions of séances - Balanced portrayal of both Houdini and Crandon Disliked: - Over-detailed tangents that slow the narrative - Too many minor characters and subplots - Writing style can be dense and academic - Takes too long to reach central conflict Several readers noted they skimmed certain sections to get back to the main story. One reader said "the amount of detail sometimes buries the fascinating core narrative." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (280+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (150+ ratings) Most recommend it for readers interested in spiritualism history who don't mind a slower pace.

Ghost Hunters by Deborah Blum The story follows the Scientific American investigation team who tested psychic claims in the 1920s, paralleling the same era and many of the same figures from The Witch of Lime Street.

The Spiritualists by Ruth Brandon This history tracks the rise of the American Spiritualist movement through its key figures, frauds, and believers from the Fox Sisters through the 1920s.

Final Séance by Massimo Polidoro The book examines the complex relationship between Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle over their opposing views on spiritualism and mediumship.

The Perfect Medium: Photography and the Occult by Clément Chéroux The book presents the intersection of early photography and spiritualism, featuring many of the same techniques used by mediums in the Scientific American investigations.

Houdini: A Mind in Chains by Bernard C. Meyer This examination of Houdini's life focuses on his crusade against fraudulent mediums and his complex relationship with spiritualism after his mother's death.

🔮 The book details the rivalry between Harry Houdini and Mina "Margery" Crandon, a Boston medium who captivated America during the 1920s spiritualism craze. ⚜️ Scientific American magazine offered a $5,000 prize (equivalent to about $75,000 today) to any medium who could prove their supernatural abilities under controlled conditions. 🎭 Author David Jaher discovered this story while researching his own family's involvement in early 20th-century spiritualism and spent over seven years researching and writing the book. ✨ Mina Crandon performed séances in complete darkness, allegedly producing ectoplasm from her body and channeling her dead brother Walter, who would tell jokes and sing songs. 🔍 The investigation of Margery's abilities involved prominent figures from Harvard, MIT, and other prestigious institutions, making it one of the most thoroughly documented paranormal investigations in history.